Hey, hockey fans, Erica L.

Ayala here, founder of Black
Rose Media and your co-host

of the Founding 4 Podcast.

This year, Black Rose Media and the
Founding 4 Podcast went to Toronto for the

2023 PHF All-Star Showcase, and we were
lucky enough to be sponsored by MeiGray.

As part of our partnership, we went
behind the scenes with Dave Meisel and

he taught us everything that goes into
preparing for a MeiGray jersey auction.

As you'll see, Tiffany Thompson is
the amazing photographer who was

with us, and so let's take a look
at some of her work and a little

bit more from Dave about how MeiGray
gets their auctions off the ground.

Hi, I'm Dave Meisel.

I'm the PHF Program Director and
Director of Special Projects at

MeiGray, and we, uh, authenticate all
of game-used sports memorabilia um, that

comes through our doors from the PHF.

So over the last couple days, we've been
keeping close tabs on the jerseys as

they're used at various events, um, before
any of the events started this weekend.

So Friday night, uh, me and one
of the equipment managers numbered

all the jerseys one and two.

Um, now that's because there
are two jerseys made for every.

One is for the player to use in the first
game of, uh, that their team plays in,

in the showcase, and the other is for
them to use for the rest of the showcase

for the players to keep, which is pretty
customary and all star events set.

Any level of pro hockey.

So we've got a table with a
second set of jerseys spread out

right by the team's locker room.

Um, outside the locker room,
obviously, uh, every player's gonna

sign their jersey, ideally on the
back number with a black Sharpie.

Uh, and uh, I'm gonna watch
'em do that just so we know the

autographs are legit, of course.

And, um, then we are literally going.

Trade each other exchange
at the same time.

Hey, Jillian Dempsey,
here's your second jersey.

Thanks for your first.

So every New Jersey MeiGray sells goes
through our office in Burg, New Jersey.

Um, I'm gonna be taking a close
look at, you know, whether there's

holes in 'em in specific game use.

That's pretty rare.

For an All-star game.

Um, so I don't expect to see much, but
um, you know, if, if a player does some

special like scores a hat trick or a
Michigan goal, you know, I might look at

some stitching on the back of the flight
strap, see if it matches what's in video.

And um, just so I can that,
that jersey is the one

Michigan golden.

Um, From there, um, after they've
been, uh, had security tags sewn

in, or inventory number tags that
everyone's familiar with, they get

passed onto our photo photography
department and, uh, the auction

should be built by the end of the day.

Thursday, we are talking
about sports history here.

You know, that that's what I've
been stressing the whole time

with the n w Hhl and the bhf.

Preserve it is too much of women's
sports over the history of women's sports

has been lost to the sands of time.

So our website, uh, for auctions,
which is we're all specialty type

jerseys, go for the most part.

Um, that's my gray auctions.com.

M E I G R A Y auctions.com.

Um, you know, it's pretty easy to use.

I just recommend signing up more than
24 hours before an auction ends, so we

can assist you in any way if possible.

You know, it's, it's what any auction is.

It might be a little stressful when you're
competing in those last few minutes.

It's just pretty cool that we get to,
you know, connect a growing league.

Collectors, which, you know, from
the start, it was before I got

invested in this space personally,
I said, well, people are gonna want

to buy women's hockey jerseys now.

We did a proof of concept from selling
auctioning the USA uh, hockey women's

jerseys for the past 12 years or so.

But, um, yeah, there's a huge following.

Didn't know you could reach.

Right.

So, um, it's really cool to.

Um, they grow and, um, it's kind
of fun to be alone for the ride.

Thank you as always for tuning
into the founding Ford Podcast

and taking a look at all of our
coverage over on Black Rosy Media.

Again, we are so grateful to Tiffany
Thompson for her fantastic photography.

You also saw some pictures from Nathan
Fernandes that was from the Hockey Hall

of Fame event where I was the moderator.

If you want more information on
how to bid on the MeiGray Jerseys,

head to BlackRosieMedia.com.

We'll have another primer that you
can read and we'll give you a little

bit more history behind some of the
charity auctions that MeiGray is

hosting with the PHF this season.